The Army has awarded Medals of Heroism, the service’s highest medal for Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadets, to the three Junior ROTC students killed defending their classmates from a gunman at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida on Feb. 14

The Medal of Heroism, awarded to Peter Wang, Alaina Petty and Martin Duque, recognizes JROTC cadets whose achievements “involved the acceptance of danger and extraordinary responsibilities, exemplifying praiseworthy courage and fortitude.”

All three students were among the 17 people killed by former Stoneman Douglas High School JROTC cadet Nikolas Cruz.

According to eyewitness accounts, Wang was last seen holding a door open to allow his fellow students to escape. The Army confirmed the news, first reported by The Daily Beast to Task & Purpose.

The Army presented Petty’s family with her Medal of Heroism at a memorial service, according to The Daily Beast, while Duque’s family received his medal at a later date. Wang’s family received his medal during his memorial service.

“It’s my understanding that this is an open casket service and the family requested their son be buried in his JROTC uniform,” U.S. Army Cadet Command spokesman Michael Maddox told Task & Purpose.

Adding, “The JROTC Heroism Medal will be on his uniform, but a second ‘keepsake’ medal will be given to the family.”

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported that the U.S. Military Academy provided the Wang family with a letter posthumously accepting Peter into West Point Class of 2025

Broward County Public High School system’s JROTC program claims an average enrollment of 7,650 students in 28 of its 34 schools annually.

(Editor’s note: View the original article at https://taskandpurpose.com/army-jrotc-medals-florida-shooting/.)